Soil
Any fertile soil with good drainage.
Position
Full sun.
Frost tolerant
None. Portulaca is a warm-season flower.
Feeding
Mix a light application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil prior to planting. In early summer, drench plants with a liquid feed to support strong growth.
Companions
Dianthus. Portulaca flowers open during the day, so plant them where they can be seen during midday hours. The low-growing plants are excellent for edging beds or slipping into outer corners. In containers, combine portulaca with taller flowers that like full sun.
Spacing
Single Plants: 7″ (20cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 7″ (20cm) with 7″ (20cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Start seeds indoors in spring and set out the seedlings after the last frost has passed and the soil is warm. Many gardeners save time by buying portulacas as bedding plants.
Notes
Portulaca tolerates blazing sun and the delicate blossoms attract honeybees. Colors include red, orange, violet, white and pink. In climates with long summers, portulaca often reseeds itself with seedlings appearing in early summer.
Harvesting
Pinch back plants every few weeks to stimulate the growth of new bud-bearing branches.
Troubleshooting
Excessive rain can cause portulaca to develop root rot problems.
